President of India Mr.Pranab Mukherjee is presenting STREE SHAKTI PURASKAR,2013 today on IWD-2014 on March 8,2014 to Odisha’s Manasi Pradhan.Manasi-You have made Odisha proud.May Lord.Jagannath bless you in all your endeavors in the days/years ahead.

Eminent women rights activist Manasi Pradhan of Odisha has been selected to receive the much coveted Rani Laxmibai National Stree Shakti Puraskar for the year 2013.

Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar is India’s highest national honour given to recognize the spirit of courage and the personal achievement of a woman. The award instituted in the year 1991 includes a cash prize of Rs. Three Lakh and a citation. Rani Laxmi Bai award is given to recognize the spirit of courage and the personal achievement of a woman in difficultcircumstances, who has established this spirit of courage in her individual or professional life.

Indian Women have taken on different roles before and after Independence and excelled in many fields. The achievements of such women are made all the more precious by the fact that in most cases, success has been achieved in the face of adversity and difficulties and with the strength of courage initiative and determination.

As a measure of recognition of achievements in individual women in the field of social development, the Government of India has instituted of 6 National Awards, which are called “Stree Shakti Puruskar”. These awards are in the name of the following eminent women personalities in the Indian history, who are famous for their personal courage and integrity:‐

Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar

Kannagi

Mata Jajabai

Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang

Rani Lakshmi Bai

Rani Rudramma Devi (for both men & women)

Manasi Pradhan from Odisha.

Wiki Profile of Manasi Pradhan:-

Manasi Pradhan hails from a remote Village Ayatpur of Banpur Block , Khordha district of Odisha. She used to walk down 15 KM+ daily on foot amidst hilly tearrain & swamps to become 1st Woman Matriculate of her Village-with her indomitable spirit in spite of abject poverty she became the 1st Woman Post graduate of entire Banpur Region. But a mountain-like obstacle lay ahead with no college in the entire region and the poverty-stricken family with no resource to fund their daughter to a far off college. Resolute not to let down her dreams at any cost, it was a relentless struggle for a 16-year old girl, both to fund her own higher education as well as sustain her family that was fast drowning into abject poverty.

She is the Founder of “Honour for Women National Campaign ” Movement to end violence against women & her relentless fight has led many State Govt.s to cut down liquor trading & include Self Defense training for women in educational curriculum .

She is Advisory Board Member of World Women Organisation ( WWO )-received ” Outstanding Woman Award ” on International Women’s Day-2011 at UN HQ.

Member Inquiry Committee of National Commission for Women-will receive 2013 Rani LaxmibaiStree Shakti Puraskar ( the highest National Honour given to recognise the spirit of courage & the personal achievement of a woman ) on International Women’s Day-2014 on March 8,2014 from the President of India Mr.Pranab Mukherjee.

Manasi is also a prolific Writer & her Book ” Urmi–O–Uchchwas ” has already been translated into 8 major Languages of the World

The 2012 Rani Laxmibai Stree Shakti Puraskar was conferred by the President posthumously on the Delhi braveheart “Nirbhaya” last year.

In 2011, Mrs. Manasi Pradhan was conferred with the prestigious ‘Outstanding Women Award’ along with global chief of Missionaries of Charity Sister Prema at the International Women’s Day ceremony jointly held by United Nation’s UN Women & National Commission for Women. Following the award, She was inducted as Inquiry Committee Member of National Commission for Women.